Proximity Gun Safety Device

ABSTRACT

A gun safety device mounted on a gun which automatically prevents the gun from firing when it detects an object is in close proximity to the barrel of the gun. The safety device having a proximity detection system and a data processing device for identifying whether the gun is pointed at a close object, and for generating a disable signal when the gun is identified to be pointed at a near object, and a safety seizer operable to prevent the gun from discharging in response to receiving the disable signal from the data processing device.

This application claims the benefit of provisional application No.62/327,766 filed Apr. 26, 2016.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to an improved safety system anddevice for firearms. The system utilizes proximity detection systems toprotect persons from friendly fire, specifically to prevent accidents,during training and when in closed quarters. In particular, the systemutilizes proximity detectors and a trigger lock to prevent an accidentalfiring of a gun at a range that is predetermined to be too close forsafe firing.

Discussion of the Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,149 ('149 patent), which issued to Cady et al.,discloses an Electronic Trigger Lock. The '149 patent describes anelectronic trigger lock which contains a back plate which blocks accessto the trigger from one side of a firearm. This back plate has a memberextending from it which contains a first series of ratchet teeth. Next,an electronic portion of the electronic trigger guard is provided toblock access to the other side of the trigger. This electronic portionis contained within an outer housing. A user interface is located on theexterior of the outer housing for entering information into theelectronic trigger lock. This interface may be comprised of translucentcolored buttons. Also, this user interface is illuminated. The outerhousing has an opening for receiving the member extending from the backplate. This opening contains a second series of ratchet teeth which areadapted to engage the first series of ratchet teeth on the member. Asolenoid is located inside the outer housing to enable the release ofthe first series of ratchet teeth from the second series of ratchetteeth. Finally, a processor, internal to the outer housing, is providedfor energizing the solenoid upon receiving a predefined code from theuser interface.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,179,247 ('247 patent), which issued to Ivtsenkov et al.,discloses an Interrogator-Transponder RF System for Prevention ofHunting Accidents. The '247 patent describes the RF system forpreventing hunting accidents comprising RF interrogator mounted on thefirearm and RF transponder attached to hunter's coat, whereinsharp-diagram K-band RF channel of the interrogator, which is directedalong the sightline of hunter's rifle, provides alert information about“friendly targets” that could be under fire, such as other hunters orpersons and animals equipped with said transponder, and if they are, thesystem develops alert signal: “Do not shoot”. Also, the system isoptionally equipped with a trigger lock automatically preventingfriendly fire.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,175,915 ('915 patent), which issued to Harvey, describesan Apparatus and Methods for Safe Use and Storage of Firearms andWeapons. The '915 patent describes a lock for a firearm or weapon isdisclosed that enables the weapon when control is established by a userwhile the weapon is in a storage location or holding device. The weaponremains operable as long as the user continuously remains in control butis disabled until returned to the storage location or device if the userrelinquishes control. Storage and user zones are defined by weaponlocation or input devices such as a grip safety. Mechanical devices orsignals transfer the zone determinations to a logic device. When thelogic device, which may be mechanical, electronic or implemented inother way, determines that the weapon is considered to be both in thestorage zone and the user zone and it causes transition to an operablestate. The logic device causes transition to an inoperable state if theweapon is determined not to be in either zone.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,354,010 ('010 patent), which issued to McCulloch,describes a Firearm Breathalyzer. The '010 patent discloses a system forlocking a firing mechanism of a firearm in response to blood-alcoholcontent can include a breathalyzer system and a lock system. Thebreathalyzer system can be configured to connect to a firearm andinclude an input port for receiving fluid and a processing module foranalyzing blood-alcohol content of the fluid. The lock system can beconfigured to connect to the firearm and be operably connected to thebreathalyzer system for receiving a signal from the breathalyzer systemso as to disable a firing mechanism of the firearm in response to theblood-alcohol content of the fluid being sensed to be above a threshold.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,393,869 ('869 patent), which issued to Oiki et al.describes a Vehicle Acceleration Suppression Device and VehicleAcceleration Suppression Method. The '010 patent discloses a totalcertainty factor indicating a total degree of certainty of the parkingframe certainty degree and the parking frame entering certainty degreeis calculated based on a parking frame certainty degree indicating thedegree of certainty that a parking frame is present in a traveldirection of a vehicle, and a parking frame entering certainty degreeindicating the degree of certainty that the vehicle enters the parkingframe. When the total certainty factor is low, acceleration of thevehicle controlled according to an operation amount of an acceleratorpedal for instructing a driving force by operation of a driver issuppressed with a low suppression degree, as compared with a case wherethe total certainty factor is high. Further, the acceleration of thevehicle is suppressed with a lower suppression degree as the vehiclespeed of the vehicle is higher.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Gun Safety is a paramount interest for gun owners, legislators,educators, and many other interest groups. One of the largest problemsfor the modern gun educator is that training is difficult, timeconsuming, and dangerous. In order for a person to be properly trainedwith a firearm he or she must, necessarily, handle a weapon loaded withlive ammunition. Even in the hands of a skilled and trained operatorfirearms can pose a safety hazard, but when training new users this riskis particularly acute. Certain training regimens are implemented byskilled firearm educators, but these are not foolproof, and many firearmowners prefer to train their kin themselves in private or semi-privatesettings. Sadly, there are still many firearms accidents that occur insuch training systems yearly.

Therefore there is a need for a device that increases the safety offirearms training regimens, and in particular, can prevent the firing ofa firearm loaded with live ammunition under a particular set ofcircumstances. Therefore is a principal object of the present inventionto provide a proximity triggered gun lock for a trigger-operated gunwhich with a high degree of accuracy and precision allows the gun owneror operator to fire the weapon only when there is sufficient distancebetween the muzzle of the gun and the target.

This object, as well as other objects which will become apparent fromthe discussion that follows, is achieved, in accordance with the presentinvention, by providing a trigger-locking (in at least one embodimentbeing battery-powered) or firing interrupt device which is configured tobe disposed on a gun includes a proximity detector, data receiver, adata memory and a logic device for determining whether the distance iswithin an applicable range. In the case that there is an unacceptabledistance indicated within the device the safety is activated and/or thetrigger is locked.

The advantages of such an application become clear when one isexperienced in firearms, shooting ranges, and a typical trainingenvironment. Typically, training is conducted at a gun or firing range.By necessity there will be more than one person in the proximity of thetrainee when he or she is in operation of the live firearm he or she isbeing trained to use. Oftentimes these sessions will be conducted ingroups, both to reduce the cost to each individual trainee, but alsobecause certified trainers are often in short supply. Thus there will beone or more inexperienced shooters handling a live firearm in arelatively enclosed area. This poses significant risks to each shooterhimself, but also to the trainer and other trainees. The first risk isself-inflicted wounds such as shooting oneself in the leg byaccidentally pulling the trigger while the gun is loaded, Another riskis hitting another trainee or the trainer. A final risk is hitting atarget, wall, or other similar surface and creating a dangerous ricochetor shrapnel. By controlling the distance at which a gun can be fired,many of these dangers can be significantly reduced because propertargets will be located at a predicable range from the barrel of a gun.

Experienced shooters will note that this is a training device, and isnot practically applicable to use in conjunction with a typical gun usedin hunting or self defense, but its applicability for training and otheranalogous activities will become clear in the foregoing discussion.

To achieve these objectives, a Proximity Gun Safety Device andassociated methods having the following features is proposed.

Such embodiments do not represent the full scope of the invention.Reference is made therefore to the claims herein for interpreting thefull scope of the invention. Other objects of the present invention, aswell as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will beelucidated or become apparent from, the following description and theaccompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features of my invention will become more evident from aconsideration of the following brief descriptions of drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a representative firearm and theproximity range detector and trigger lock according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of representative firearm and the proximityrange detector and trigger lock mated together according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the representative firearm and theproximity range detector and trigger lock mated together and firingdownrange in a representative scenario.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the representative firearm and theproximity range detector and trigger lock mated together and the locktriggering during an attempt to fire downrange in a representativescenario.

FIG. 5 is a side on view of representative gun and an electronic triggerlock according to an embodiment of the current invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now the drawings with more specificity, the present inventionessentially provides a proximity based gun safety device. The preferredembodiments of the present invention will now be described withreference to FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings. Variations and embodimentscontained herein will become apparent in light of the followingdescriptions.

Looking now to FIG. 1 a representative safety device 10 andrepresentative firearm 100 are shown. Gun 100 includes a body 110, ahandle 120 integral with the body, a barrel/nozzle 130 with an opening131 for providing for the passage of projectiles 200 a trigger apparatus140, and a rail 150. The gun 100 as constructed above is known in theart and is considered only to be illustrative. The gun or firearmutilized with locking apparatus may preferably have additional featuresaccording to the user's desires. In addition, it will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that different embodiments of a gun may be usedwithout departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, the gunneed not be a typical handgun or pellet gun as depicted and may also bea rifle, shotgun, submachine gun, or other firearms contemplated but notshown.

Looking with greater detail at safety device or apparatus 10, apreferred embodiment of the invention is shown. Outer case 11 housesinternal electronics (not shown) that utilize proximity detector 20 tomake decisions related to the firing of firearm 100. Typically theproximity detector 20 will be either an ultrasonic rangefinder or alaser rangefinder. In some embodiments it may be desirable to utilizeboth forms of rangefinders or other proximity detection methods that arerated for use in human safety applications. Apparatus 10 is locked ontothe firearms mount or rail 150 at locking point 30 which also mayselectively engage with the firing mechanisms of firearm 100. In mostembodiments apparatus 10 will have an adjusting switch or mechanism 40.In some embodiments switch 40 will merely be an “on/off” switch similarto a typical safety on a firearm, however, in other preferredembodiments switch 40 is capable of setting preferred minimum andmaximum ranges of firing (e.g. fire only if minimum distance detected isgreater than two (2) meters, or only fire if distance detected is withinthe range of three to twelve (3-12) meters, or other desired distances).In a typical, simplified embodiment the locking apparatus will not allowfiring if an object is detected less than a meter from the barrel of thegun. Because of geometry, even small increases in minimum thresholddistances (such as a few feet) greatly decreases the risk of anaccidental death or injury related to the use of firearms. Because ofthe nature of the parts, the locking apparatus has an incredibly fastresponse time (less than 50 milliseconds in most embodiments) thus evenan untrained shooter who abruptly directs barrel 130 towards a closetarget will be unlikely to fire on the target within the response timeof the system.

Looking now towards FIGS. 3 and 4 exemplary operation of the device isshown. In FIG. 3 target 210 is situated an appropriate distance (D1)from the barrel of the gun and the proximity detector of apparatus 10.Signals 215 that are read by the detector 20 indicate to apparatus 10that the target is far enough away from the gun and thus when the userpulls the trigger projectile 200 is successfully fired. In FIG. 4,however, target 210 is oriented at a close distance (D2) with respect tothe end of the barrel of the gun and the proximity detector 20. Thus,apparatus 10 interrupts the firing mechanism of firearm 100 and noprojectile is fired.

Although not typically appreciated by those skilled in the art, yourchances of being struck by a spray bullet (or shrapnel caused as aresult thereof) increase dramatically the closer you are to the muzzleof a gun (just as it is more difficult to intentionally hit a target thefarther away a target is). In various simulations it has been shown thatan average human target one (1) foot away from an erratic shooter wouldbe hit in approximately 15-20% of cases, however, in a simulation wherethe target was just seven (7) feet away from the barrel the target washit in fewer than 1% of cases. This is consistent with hypotheticalmathematical models that demonstrate that accidental injuries follow aninverse squared law as follows:

$P = \frac{k*A_{s}}{d^{2}}$

Where:

P=Probability of the target being hitk=A constant derived from the ballistics of the firearm and ammunitionA_(s)=Surface area of the target oriented towards the barrelD=Distance to the targetThus, by doubling the distance you quarter the probability of anaccidental injury due to discharge of the firearm.

Looking now to FIG. 5 an embodiment of the firearm 100 and proximitysafety device 10 is now shown in even greater detail. Safety device 10possesses previously recited elements such as cover 11, detector, 20,mount 30, and switch 40, however it should now also be evident that itpossesses a logic circuit or microchip 12 for processing data collectedfrom detector 20 and switch 40. In addition, in many cases detector 20will have additional rendering and processing equipment 21 which mayselectively feed and edit information before processing in processor 12(or a similar detach processing apparatus or data processing device). Incertain cases such equipment 21 will also contain the power supply ofthe safety device. When processor 12 makes a determination on whetherthe firearm 100 should fire, a signal is sent through wire or signaloutput 31. In certain case an electrical interrupt 15 will preventfiring when the distance detected in detector 20 is not within the rangeof values set via input switch 40.

Accordingly, although the invention has been described by reference tocertain preferred and alternative embodiments, it is not intended thatthe novel arrangements be limited thereby, but that modificationsthereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scopeand spirit of the foregoing disclosures and the appended drawings.

1. An apparatus comprising: a firearm comprising a handle, body, barrel,frame, firing mechanism, and trigger; and a safety device mounted to theframe of the firearm, the safety device comprising a proximity detectoraligned in parallel with the barrel of the firearm, a data processingdevice, the data processing device taking inputs from the proximitydetector and the data processing device comparing the proximity of thegun barrel to a predetermined range of distances, and the dataprocessing device sending an output through a signaling mechanism; andwherein the output of the signaling mechanism selectively disables thefiring mechanism of the firearm when the proximity detector has detectedan object within from the barrel of the firearm.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein: the signaling mechanism is a safety seizer coupled tothe data processing device to receive the output, the safety seizeroperable to disable the gun to prevent it from discharging in responseto receiving a disable signal in the output.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1wherein: the signaling mechanism is an electronic signaling wire thatdelivers an electrical interrupt to the firing mechanism of the firearm.4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the proximity detector is anultrasonic rangefinder.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: theproximity detector is a laser rangefinder.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5further comprising: a processor in cooperation with the proximitydetector, said processor preprocessing data from the proximity detectorand directing said data to the data processing device.
 7. A firearmsafety device for preventing accidental shootings comprising: a powersupply; a proximity detecting device electronically connected to thepower supply and for generating information on the environment in frontof the firearm safety device, the proximity detector being an ultrasonicrangefinder; a user input located on the exterior of the safety deviceallowing a user to selectively turn on/off the safety device andallowing the user to input a set of distance parameters said distanceparameters defining a safe zone around the device; a processor connectedto the power supply and capable of processing information from theproximity detecting device and the user input and outputting a signal todisable or enable firing of a firearm; and an electromechanical firinginterrupt device configured for receiving the signal from the processorand selectively preventing firing of a firearm when an object isdetected within the safe zone.
 8. The safety device of claim 7 wherein:the safe zone is defined as any area within 3 meters from the firearmsafety device.
 9. The safety device of claim 7 wherein: the proximitydetector further comprises a laser rangefinder.
 10. The safety device ofclaim 7 wherein: the electromechanical firing interrupt device is asafety seizer coupled to the processor to receive the disable signal,capable of disabling a firearm to prevent it from discharging inresponse to receiving the disable signal.
 11. The safety device of claim7 wherein: the processor compares a set of distance values received fromthe proximity detecting device to a set of distance values in the userinput and determines whether to output a disable or enable signal basedon whether distance values received from the proximity detecting deviceare within the parameters set by the user input.
 12. The safety deviceof claim 11 wherein: the processor can change the output from an enablesignal to a disable signal in less than 50 milliseconds.
 13. A method ofselectively firing a firearm comprising: providing a firearm comprisinga handle, body, barrel, frame, firing mechanism, and trigger; providinga safety device and mounting said safety device to the frame of thefirearm, the safety device comprising a proximity detector aligned inparallel with the barrel of the firearm, a data processing device, thedata processing device taking inputs from the proximity detector andoutputting an output; orienting the firearm towards a target; pullingthe trigger on the firearm; and detecting the distance between thebarrel of the firearm and the target with the proximity detector;comparing distance between the barrel of the firearm and the target to apredetermined set of values in the data processing device, said set ofvalues defining a safe zone around the firearm; and selectivelydisabling the firing mechanism of the firearm when the distance detectedis not within a predetermined range of values thereby creating a safezone around the firearm.
 14. The method of claim 14 further comprising:the user inputting a set of distance values through a user input, theinputted set of user values modifying the predetermined set of values inthe data processing device.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein: theproximity detector is an ultrasonic rangefinder.
 16. The method of claim14 wherein: the proximity detector is a laser rangefinder.